Which versions of the Kia Sportage are available?

Kia’s Mk4 Sportage – or QL to use its internal codename – was introduced in 2016 continuing on from where its strongly selling predecessor left-off.

Still only available as a five-door SUV, the Kia Sportage was slightly larger, even better equipped, impeccably built and just a little bit more interesting to look at, outside at least.

Such is the pace of development with Korea brands that the Sportage was facelifted in 2018, with a makeover that gave it a passing resemblance to the Porsche Macan, right down to the four dots of LED daytime-running lights on higher spec models.

It was at the 2018 facelift that the petrol and diesel engines were joined by a 48-volt diesel-electric mild-hybrid to boost both efficiency and performance.

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Kia Sportage Model History

Third-generation Kia Sportage (2010-16)

Suddenly, with the introduction of the Mk3 Sportage (SL-generation) in 2010, Kia had transformed the model from being an also-ran to a must-have crossover.

Its bold styling, was the work of Peter Schreyer, a stylist who’d previously worked at Audi – it’s no coincidence that some of the Sportage’s design elements show similar themes to the German marque’s Q3 and Q5 models – those light units set in the rear bumper, being a noteworthy tell-tale.

This Sportage was a statement of confidence from the brand – as was the enormous Kia logo set in the centre of the distinctive grille.

Not only were levels build quality and on-board technology heightened, that added desirability factor enabled Kia to sell 95,626 Mk3 Sportages in the UK over its six-year lifecycle.

Second-generation Kia Sportage (2005-10)

Most importantly, this was the first time that Kia had employed an all-in-one construction method for its SUV range, using the same basic underpinnings as the contemporary Mentor saloon and Shuma hatchback. Theoretically this would make it better to drive and more efficient to run.

Also, after the first two years were all of this generation of Sportage hailed from Korea, from 2007 onwards assembly was at Kia’s Slovakian plant.

Sportage customers had a choice of a petrol 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine or a much thirstier 2.7-litre V6, but inevitably most went for the more efficient diesels, particularly the CRDi motor introduced in 2007.

After just five years on sale, Kia had sold 23,371 Mk2 Sportages to British customers.

First-generation Kia Sportage (1995-04)

Back in the early-1990s, the automotive landscape was very different, dominated by hatchbacks and saloons – even MPVs were still in their infancy.

There was, however, a slowly emerging SUV movement. Rough, tough and usually large off-roaders had existed for years, but less expensive ones were few and far between: Suzuki had its SJ and Vitara ranges, while Toyota was on the cusp of launching the RAV4.

Kia’s first Sportage (the NB-7) surfed on that initial wave of interest: revealed in 1993, British sales began in summer 1995, and always of the five-door SUV bodystyle. Other markets also received a shorter, three-door convertible and a longer Grand Sportage.

Notably, like the traditional SUVs already on sale at the time, the Mk1 Sportage had its body attached to a separate frame underneath – a construction method now that’s a rarity, even for serious off-roaders.

Although most of this generation of Sportage originated from Korea, Kia also had an agreement with Karmann of Germany to assemble them. In total 10,879 Sportages of this generation were sold in Britain before stocks ran out in 2004.